Buckle



Jan. 7, 1936- D. l. REITER Er AL 2,026,750

BUCKLE Filed Aug; 2, 1935 2 sheets-sheet 1 5l v 6o l 52 50 L INVENTORS @AN/EL 12E/TER .JAMES H. ARTHUR BY H www6 wm ATTORNEY` Jan. 7, 1936. Y D. REITER ETAL 2,026,750

' BUCKLE Filed Aug.V 2, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @1Q v i 72 MM/(AAM lNvENToRS DAN/EL l. RETE? JAMES H. ARTHUR' l A oRNEY `Patented Jan. 7, 1936 BUCKLE Daniel I. Reiter. New York, N. Y., and James n. Arthur, Providence, R. I.; said Arthur assignor to said Reiter Application August 2, 1933, serial Ne. 683,264 13 claims. (c1. zei-,186)

This invention relates to buckles of the type known as slide buckle s, and which are adapted to slide on or to be secured to one part and to receive and secure the end of an adjusting strap in place.

The invention contemplates the provision of a buckle designed to be economically manufactured from a single piece of sheet metal and provided with simple and eiiicient means whereby the buckle may be readil clothing and with integral means for gripping y attached to an article of the strap or belt passed therethroughl to maintain said strap or bel t in itsadjusted position.

The invention furthercontemplates the provision of` means a dapted toreinforce and strengthen the buckle and to serve theadditional function of engaging and gripping the strap passed through the buckle.

ther contemplates `the The invention :furprovision of simple and eil- Fig. 4 is a. similar the same.

Fig. 5 is a rear view of view of a modified lform of amediedierm of the buckle and particularlyon the central bar thereof. Fig. 6 is a similar fragmentary view of another form of the member carrying the strap-engaging teeth.

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section of the same, taken on the line 'l-'l of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a similar view o f a modified form of the same wherein the tooth-carrying member is bent from the outermost edgeof the buckle.

Fig. 9 is a view si form of our inventi milar to Fig. 6 of another on wherein the teeth are on the line I lI-IU of Fig. 11 is a similar modified form of the member carrying the strapengaging teeth.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Figs. 6 and 9 but showing a modied form of the buckle teeth.'

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section of the same, taken on `the line I3-l3 of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 13 but showing the strap-engaging te as in Fig. 9.

Fig. 15 is a similar view of another modified form ofthe member carrying the teeth, similar to Fig. 8 in that said member is-bent from -the outer edge of the buckle.,

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 14 of another modified form ofthe member carrying the strapengaging teeth bent similarly to the form of Fig. 15, in which the teeth are aligned in a manner similar to Fig. 14.

Fig. 17 is a front elevation of another form of the buckle wherein the fastening means are made integralwith the central bar of the buckle.

Fig. 18 is a'side view of the same.

Fig. 19 is a front elevation of the prong clamping member `usedin connection with the buckle of Fig. `17. i Fig. 20` isa horizontal section o1' the buckle shown in Figs. 17 and 18 but showing the buckle assembled with the clamping member of Fig. 19 and in its operative position.

Fig. 21 is a rear view oi the same.

Fig. 22 is a horizontal section of the same, the parts, however, being shown in the positions which they assume prior to the assembly thereof.

Fig. 23 is a similar view of a modied form of the same wherein the prong clamp, however, has been omitted and the prongs utilized to secure the buckle directly to the article to which it is attached. A

Fig. 24 is a rear elevation of another form of buckle wherein the attaching prongs are arranged to project from theends of the buckle.

Fig. 25 is a similar view o i.' a modified form of the Abuckle wherein the attaching'prongs are bent from the material of the buckle cross bar.

Fig. 26 is a similar view oi.' another modified. form of the buckle wherein two sets of attaching prongs are used, one set being arranged on each side of but adjacent the central bar.

Fig. 27 is a similar view of the prong clamp `used in connection with the buckle of Fig. 26.

A Fig. 28 is a bottom planview of the buckle of Fig. 26 as it appears assembled with the prong clamp ofFig. 27.

In the practical embodiments of our invention `which we have illustrated by way of example, we have provided in a one-piece buckle, a member adapted to reinforce the buckle and to carry the belt-engaging teeth thereon.

We have also provided novel means for securing the buckle, when desired, to the fabric of which articles of clothing are usually made.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, the buckle 30 is made of a single piece of sheet metal and isprovided with a pair of spaced transverse belt or strap-receiving slots 3| and 32. Transverse end bars as 33 and 34 are thereby provided, together with the central transverse or cross bar 35. Said bars are connected by the longitudinal or side bars 36 and 31 at their respective sides. Each of the end bars 33 and 34 is, however, extended and folded back on itself to provide the tooth-carrying members as 31a and 38, each of at least two'thicknesses of material. As illustrated, said members 31a and 38 are integrally joined to the end bars and bent therefrom as by means of the integral respective bends 39 and 40.' At the innermost edge 4| of each of the end bars is provided a series of serrations forming the preferably blunt teeth 42 on said edge.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the teeth 42 lie in subbars 36 and 31 is preferably continued for a short distance and the continuation bent rearwardly to form the guard flanges 43a. and 44, respectively. Said iianges serve not only as a guide for the belt but also serve to reinforce the buckle as well as serving the additional purpose of concealing the short ends of the doubled members 31a and 38 from view. The central bar 35 is suitably slotted and/or perforated to provide means for receiving suitable securing means such as the rivets 29 shown in dash-dot lines, or other suitable fastening means, should it be desired to secure the buckle to the article of clothing. Towards this end, the slot 45 is provided substantially midway between the long edges of the bar. 35. Said slot is constricted as at 46 and 41 and rounded as at 48 to provide a rivet receiving opening of not greater diameter than that of the greater part of said slot.

It will be understood, however, that the slot may be shaped in a great variety of different ways or that suitable spaced openings may be made in the bar 35 for the reception of the fastening means whether such means consists of rivets, sewing threads or any other means customarily used in the art. For example, as shown in Fig.

V5, a series of suitably spaced circular openings as 49, 5|! may be used to replace the slot 45 in the central bar 35, it being understood that the buckle 5| of Fig. 5 may be provided with the side guards 43a and 44, if desired, and with strapengaging teeth at any desired point which may be found convenient, and as hereinafter dcscribed and hence not illustrated in Fig. 5.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the ,teeth-carrying member 52, instead of being bent from the outer edgel of the end bar 33, is bent from the inner edge thereofiand is integrally connected to the end bar by means of the bend 53. Furthermore, instead of providing teeth on the free edge of the member 52 ln the manner hereinbefore described in connection with Figs. 3 and 4, a series of suitable teeth as 54 may be pressed from the body portion of said bar 52 intermediate the edges thereof. l

As shown in Fig. 6, each of the teeth 54 is pressed out from the material between a ,pair of intersecting Vcuts 55 and 56 to form a substantially triangular tooth. It will be noted that while in Fig. 6, we have shown the teeth 54 in staggered relation, the teeth may be aligned with each other, as is for example shown in Figs. 9 and 10. There, the teeth 51, while being formed similarly to the teeth 54, are arranged in alignment on the teeth-carrying member 58.

It will also be understood that the teeth-carrying member 59, as shown in Fig. 8, may be bent from the outer edge of the end bar 33 and connected thereto by the integral bend 39, as described in connection with Figs. 3 and 4. The teeth 54 may be arranged in staggered relation as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, or said teeth may be aligned with each other in the member 59 as is shown in Fig. 11.

Hereinbefore, we have described teeth as 42 and 43 formed on the free edge of the toothcarrying member or triangular teeth 54 arranged in staggered relation and pressed from the material of the bar intermediate its edges, as shown in Figs. 6 to 11 inclusive. It is to be noted, however, that the teeth may be otherwise formed on the teeth-carrying member, as is shown, for example, in Figs. l2 to 16 inclusive.

Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, the series of conical teeth 60 are arranged in staggered relation on the teeth-carrying bar 6| which is bent from the end bar 33 and integrally joined thereto by the bend 53. Said teeth are formed by the depression of the material of said member 6|. The teeth, however, may be aligned, as shown in Fig. 14, at 62. Similarly, as shown in Fig. 15, the teeth-carrying member 63 may be bent from the outer edge of the end bar 33 and joined thereto by the integral bend 39 and provided with staggered teeth 60 similar to those of Figs. 12 and 13. In Fig. 16, the teeth-carrying member 63 is provided with aligned teeth 62.

It will be seen from the above that the teethcarrying member may be arranged or bent in various ways from the remainder of the end bar, and that the teeth of said member may also be variously formed and variously arranged. Other arrangements and tooth forms will be obvious to those skilled in the art and hence need not be shown nor described in detail.

Referring now to Figs. 17 to 28 inclusive, we have there shown pronged means for efficiently securing the buckle to the article to which it is to be attached and to replace the openings 45,

49 and 50, shown in Figs. l and 5. In said Figs. 17 to 28, however, We have refrained from illustrating any strap-engaging teeth since it will be understood that any of the tooth forms or arrangements of the teeth or arrangement of the c' teeth-carrying bar heretofore described in connection with Figs. l to 16 inclusive may be applied to the buckle and attaching means of Figs. 17 to 28 or that such strap-engaging teeth may be entirely omitted, if desired.

In that form of attaching means shown in Figs. 17 to 22 inclusive, the central bar 65 of the buckle is provided with a series of edge prongs 66 adapted to be passed through the fabric 61 to which the buckle is to be permanently secured. It will be understood that the prongs may be turned over directly on to the under face of the fabric 61 as shown in Fig. 23. When so bent, the prongs have a tendency to tear through the fabric in the cases when such fabric is comparatively thin and non-resistant.

It is therefore preferred to clinch the prongs 66 about a prong clamping or retaining member 68 in the form of a combined anvil and retainer arranged on the under face of the fabric sheet 61. Said member 68 is provided lwith 'a lower-'- most anvil `portion 68concave upwardly and with a pair of prong-retaining membersf10 and 1i.

Each o-f the prong-retaining members ispreferably made integral with-the `respective ends 12 `and 13 of the clamping member and is-bent to a position above and into parallel relation with .the anvill` portion 68 to provide a space 4as 14 therebetween for the reception of the prongs; In order that the 'prongsmay not .be unduly long, the central bar carrying the prongs: may be depressed below the plane of the remainder of the buckle if desired. l l

In .assembling` the buckle to `the fabric, the

`member 68 is arrangedonrone side of the fabric and the buckle on the other` side thereof. On pressing the buckle and clamping member to#- gether, the prongs 66 engagethe upper concave surface of the anvil portion 68 and are thereby bent into the form shown inFig. 21, the prongs entering the space 14 andbeing directed underneath and retained in place bythe vmembers 10 and` 1i and drawing theclamping member 68 tightly against thev under face of A:the fabric. It will be understood that the prongs 66 on one edge of the central bar 65 areduring the clenching operation bent mene direction, that is, towards the left, while the corresponding prongs on the other edge of the bar., are'bent in the opposite direction, that is, towards the. right. i.

The respective series of prongs on the bar 6.5 are therefore preferably arranged in staggered relation whereby avspace as15. is provided between adjacent prongs 66' to permit; the bending thereinto of the opposed prong on the other edge of the bar 65.V It will be seen thatthe vclamping member 68 serves not, onlyv ask al retaining member for the prongs but servesl'also to bend said prongs into the proper position` to secure the buckle to the article to which it is tobe attached and also to concealsaid prongs, as well as to prevent possible projection of sharp points on the prongs which might injure the user, and that said member further serves to-provide a secure metallic engagementfor theprongs instead of the fabric engagement shown in Fig. 23.

In Fig. 24, the prongs 16 are arrangedlongitudinally insteadof transversely and while integral with the remainder of the buckle,` they are preferably though not necessarily aligned with the central' bar 11. Said `prongs 16 are adapted toL pass` through Vthe fabric and bent either on to the under facethereofor into a suitable clamping member similar to the member 68, and such as is shownl for example, in Fig. 27 at 83.

In Fig. 25, the longitudinal prongs 18 are pressed from the material of the central 'bar 19 from between a pair of meeting cuts 88 and 8l made in -said central bar.` 1 t As sho-wn in Fig. 26', the prongs 82.may extend from the side bars of the buckle inwardly toward each other, it kbeing understood that` if desired, a series of prongs'may 'be arranged to exi tend away from each other fromtheouter edge of the cross bar similar to the prongs 16..' While the prongs 16` ofFig. 24, 18 of Fig. 25, and 82 of Fig. 26 may befusedif desired, without a clamping member, said prongs may also be used in connection with a suitable clampingmember to preserve the fabric and to effect a more efcient attachment of the buckle to the fabric.

Such a clamping member is similar to the member 68 excepting that the prong retaining spaced member thereof is arranged transversely ofthe clamping member instead of longitudinally `thereof.

Referring to Fig. 2T, the clamping member 83 `used in connection with the prongs 16, 18 and 82 is provided with upwardly concave portions 84 andl85 adjacent the respective ends thereof. The recessed, depressed or concave portionsl'is further provided with the transversely arranged prong-retaining members 86 and 81, each integral 4with'one of the edges of the member 83 and bent toward each other into spaced relation with the upper wall of the recess or depression 84. Similarly, the bars88 and 88 are pro-vided in spaced relation to the recess 85. The member 83 is made of sufficient width to permit the prongs of the buckle to engage theupper concave wall of the recess and to be clinched by said wall between the bars 8.6, 81, 88,. 69 and the upper wall of the respective recesses 84, 85 in the manner hereinbefore explained in connection with the prongs 66 and clampingmember 68 but in a direction at riGght-angles to the previously described member 8.

Itwillbe noted that in 26, the central bar 98 is arranged in substantially the same plane as -that of the remaining' buckle bars. The prongs 82, however, are depressed below said plane in the manner hereinbefore described in connection with the central bar 65,- ofV Fig. 17. Similarly, the bars 11 and 19 of Figs. 24 and 25, respectively, with the prongs carried thereby or extending therefrom may also be depressed below the plane of the top face of the buckle though it will be understood that such depression is not essential.

,It will be seen that we have provided a strong, eilicient and durable buckle adapted to slide on a strap if desired or to be secured thereto, that the doubled or foldedend bars reinforce the buckle and may if desired be provided with teeth of various formsA and arrangements; that we have further provided simple means for elciently `securing the buckle to an article when it is desired to dose., and that we have provided a structure well adapted to meet the severe requirements of practical use. p

l While we have shown and described certain specific embodiments of our invention, it will be understood that we do not desire to limit ourselves thereto, but intend to claim our invention as broadly as permitted by the state of the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

. We claim:

1. A buckle formed of a. single piece of sheet metal `and slotted and including a pair of end bars, each of said end bars being folded under on itselfto provide two parallel and coextensive c thicknesses of material and strap-engaging teeth projecting from the under thickness, said teeth being rigid and blunt and arranged inwardly of` the outermost end edges of the end bars to engage but not topierce a strap sliding in the slots oi.' the buckle.,

2. A buckle of a. single piece of sheet material having sides, ends, and a transverse bar separated by transverse belt-receiving slots from said ends and connecting said sides, each of said ends bef ing folded underon itself to provide at least two thicknesses of material, ak series of belt-engaging teeth projecting from the under thickness of material, and means adjacent the transverse bar for securing the buckle in place to a belt, said means being adapted to pass through the belt.

3. A buckle of sheet material provided with end bars and with a pair of transverse beltreceiving slots, each of the end bars being folded vonV itself to provide at least ftwoparallel, co-

extensive and closely adjacent thicknesses of material joined by an integral rounded bend of less diameter than three timesthe thickness of said material, and rigid, blunt and non-piercing belt- .engaging projections on the lower thickness of the material of said end bar.

4. A slide buckle of a single piece of sheet material having a transverse bar. separated by ai pair of spaced belt-receiving slots and including. a pair of end bars, eacheof said end bars being folded on itself to. provide at least two parallel, coextensive and closely adjacent thicknesses 'of ma.- terial thereon, and blunt belt-engaging projections integral with the lower thickness of the material of thesend bar and extendingin a direction to grip a belt slidably passed through said slots,'and slidable past the projections, said transverse bar being adapted to have a belt secured thereat.

v5. 'A slide buckle of a single piece of 'sheet material having a pair of spaced belt-receiving slots therein and including a pair of end bars, each of" said end bars being folded on itself to provide at least two coextensive thicknesses of material thereon, a series of belt engaging teeth projecting from eachof the end bars, atransverse bar separating the slots, and meansadjacent the transverse bar and adapted to pass through material to which the buckle is applied for securing the buckledto said material, said teeth being blunt and arrangedvto `engage one surface of a belt slidably passedsthrough thev slots and on which the buckle is slidable.

6. A buckle having a pair of end bars and provided with belt-receiving slots, each of saidend bars being folded on itself, and integral beltengaging teeth depressed from the material of the lower folded portion of the end bar and arranged in position to grip a belt passed through and slidable in said slots.

'7'. A buckle having sides, ends, and a transverse bar separated by slots from the ends and connecting said vsides, integral prongs on the buckle adapted to be passed through material to which the buckle is applied when the buckle is y arranged on one face of said material, and prongclinching anvil meansadapted to be arranged on the other face of Vsaidmaterial and to receive and bend the prongs, said means comprising an elongated, imperforatevcurved portion and an integral prong-retaining portion arranged in spaced relation and substantially parallel to and of substantially the length'of the curved portion.

8. A Ybuckle having an end portion folded on itself, and belt-engaging teeth integral with said belt-receiving slots, a cross vbar separating the slots'and having means adapted to passthrough a pieceof fabric wherebyf the buckle is securable to'thepiece of fabric, a pair of end bars parallel to the cross bar, each of the end bars being folded on itself to provide two coextensive, rigid thicknesses of material', one of said thicknesses terminating in a free edge, and rigid teeth projecting from one of said thicknesses into the path of a belt passed through said slots and slidable therein.

^ 10. A buckle having an end portion folded' on itself, belt-engaging teeth integral with said fold.- ed portion, an elongated substantially flat central cross bar on the buckle integral at its ends With"the,remainder vof the buckle, prongs extending laterally,v from and integral with an edge of the cross bar and additional prongs extending -laterally from the other edgev of the cross bar and substantially parallel to said first-mentioned prongs.

11. A bucklehaving an end portion folded on itself, belt-engaging teeth integral with said folded portion, a central cross bar on the buckle integral at its ends with the remainder of the buckle, a prong extending laterally from one edge of the cross bar, a substantially parallel prong extending laterally from the other edge of the cross bar, and means for securing the buckle in place comprising a metallic anvil member for receiving and bending the prongs.

12. In a buckle, a transverse elongated central bar substantially parallel to the edges of the buckle, integral prongs on the-buckle adjacent the bar, said prongs being adapted to be passed through material to which the buckle is applied when the buckleis arranged on one face of said material,I and an elongated anvil member adapted to be arranged on the other face of the material to receiveand bend the prongs and thereby to secure the buckle to said material, said anvil member comprising an elongated prong-engaging and bending part curved in one direction, and a pairof prong-retaining members, said prongretaining members extending from and being integral respectively with opposite edges of the' curved prong-bending part and extending toward each other in spaced relation to the curved part except at said opposite edges.

l13. A buckle of generally rectangular outline having a transverse bar separated by a pair of belt-'receiving slots, prongs extending laterally from the buckle and arranged in parallel planes, and an elongated prong-clinching and retaining member provided with a curved imperforate anvil part and with a pair of prong-retaining parts, saidprong-retaining parts extending toward each other respectively from opposite edges of the curved part, the combined length of said prongretaining parts being substantially the same as the length of said curved part, said prong-retaining part being spaced from the'curved part except at the ends thereof, said anvil member cooperating with the prongs to secure the buckle to a sheet ofV material through which the prongs are passed on movement of the prongs and the membertoward each other with the material therebetween.

y l DANIEL I. REITER.

JAMES H. ARTHUR. 

